It is mid-March and at Binghamton University that means it is also time for midterm
exams. In most classes, midterm exams are a major component of your grade. By now
you may have already taken your exams.

Sometimes we do well on our exams, other times we do not do as well as we hoped. Even
if your mid-term exam grade is not what you hoped it would be, there are things you
can do to improve your grade. You are not alone in dealing with this.

A. Meet with Your Professors or Teaching Assistants:

If you are concerned about any of your course material or are unsure of your understanding,
ask your professor or teaching assistant for an appointment time. You can then meet
with them, ask your questions and come to a better understanding of what is confusing
you. Your professors and teaching assistants want you to meet with them if you are
struggling with the course material.

B. Work with a Tutor:

Tutors are senior students who have been trained to assist you with your coursework.
You can arrange to work with a tutor to improve your understanding of course material
by signing up for a tutor’s assistance. To sign up for a tutor you will use a web
form at this link:http://www2.binghamton.edu/clt/tutoring.html

Waiting to the last minute is never a good idea when you need to prepare for an exam.
Planning how you will use your time will help you prepare and be less stressed. Plan
time for study and schedule breaks, or time for a little fun. Remember, sleep is an
essential part of preparing for a mid-term exam!You can use the calendar function in Google to create a study schedule.

Open your Bmail account, look at the top of the page to find the calendar function.

E. Visit the Discovery Centers:

Below you will find a link to the Discovery Center. If you are an undergraduate student,
then at a Discovery Center you can learn about study groups and tutoring services.
Don't forget, Binghamton University has many resources for academic support!http://www2.binghamton.edu/discovery/centers.html

Pursuit of Academic Success is to assist international students in maximizing their
academic achievement. Participants of this group will discuss barriers to academic
success and learn how they can better address them. This group is open to ALL international students!

Week 6 - English Language Proficiency

“I could do much better in school and enjoy my life more here at Binghamton University
if only I spoke English better. I would be happier with myself, if I spoke English
better. Only if I had better English skills…Only if…”

Have you ever felt or thought this way? If so, Please join us to talk more about your
English skills-related concerns and learn strategies to address them. English language
proficiency is closely related to academic success, self-perception and life of international
students in the United States. Come and share how you have improved your English skills
to help each other.

3. April 1 is the Deadline for Spring 2013 Health Insurance Adjustments

Please note that there is a deadline for requesting a Health Insurance Waiver or adjustment. International students requesting
a waiver or adjustment of their international health insurance fee must do so by April 1, 2013 for the Spring 2013 semester. To file a waiver or adjustment request go to: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/health-insurance/waiverinfo.html. Filing a request does not guarantee a wavier or adjustment. You must either be a graduate assistant (G.A.),
Teaching Assistant (T.A) or Research Assistant (R.A.) funded through Binghamton University
and enrolled in employee health insurance, OR meet the standards for comparable coverage outlined on the ISSS Health Insurance
web page located through the above link.

If you have questions about the International Student Health Insurance, please contact
the International Health Insurance Team at intl.insure@binghamton.edu

4. ESL Classes for the Fall 2013 Semester

Would you like to take an ESL “C” writing course or an ESL “O” speaking course in
the Fall 2013 semester? First you need to take the ESL Placement Exam to qualify for the courses.

The ESL Placement Exam will be offered: Monday, April 18th at 8:30am – 10:30am in Lecture Hall 10.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Director of English as a Second
Language, Jennifer Brondell at brondell@binghamton.edu

5. Travel Calculator on the ISSS Travel Pages

Many readers tell the ISSS that the web information on Travel is particularly helpful.
Check out the Trip Calculator link. It will provide you with the mileage to your destination
and calculate the cost of fuel (gasoline) for the trip. The link also contains some
helpful travel tips.

Some of our students who are GAs and TAs are completing their NYS income tax forms,
and have noted that for some individuals their W-2 forms issued by NYS have box 13
checked "retirement plan." The check box indicates that they are eligible to join
the NYS Employee’s Retirement System – it does not necessarily mean that a student
has actually enrolled in a retirement plan.

7. Forms 1042-S Have Now Been Distributed

International students who are non-residents for tax purposes, and who were eligible
to receive form 1042-S based on either a scholarship or a tax treaty by filing special
forms with either Mr. Fred Bucalos of the Office of Human Resources, or with the SUNY
Research Foundation Payroll Office should have now received their 1042-S Forms in
the mail. If you have not already done so, please use GLACIER Tax Prep to report the income listed on the 1042-S on your tax returns. If you do not yet
have a GLACIER account, you may obtain one by following the instructions at: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/glacier.html

8. Important Items to Remember When Completing Income Tax Forms

A number of students sometimes forget all of the necessary steps when completing their
income tax forms. Here is a helpful reminder for ISSS-BU News readers:

The ISSS provides international students who are non residents for tax purposes (those
who entered the United States in 2008 or more recently) with free tax preparation
software for completing federal income tax returns. Remember to create your GLACIER
Tax Prep accountbefore attempting to complete your federal tax firms. Follow the instructions
at: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/glacier.html

Remember that GLACIER-prepared income tax forms must be printed from the GLACIER website, and mailed by you to the Internal Revenue Service Center in either Austin,
Texas or Charlotte, NC, depending upon whether you are enclosing a payment. The pdf
file that GLACIER will provide to you includes both the tax forms and an instructions page, which provides
all of the information you need for assembling and mailing your federal income tax
forms including the correct mailing address.

Do you need to file a New York State income tax form in addition to a federal form?
On-line webcasts take you line-by-line through the New York State income tax forms,
and provide a helpful overview of federal income tax law. You may view the webcasts
at:http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/webworkshp.html

All income tax forms (federal and state) must be signed before mailing. Otherwise,
they will be returned to you.

Be sure to make a copy before you put your income tax forms in the mail!

9. Income Tax Information: How To File an Amended Tax Return

Some students have already filed their federal and state income tax returns, only
to find that additional income reports for calendar year 2012 have arrived in the
mail, either in the form of a W-2 or 1042-S. In such situations, an amended return
needs to be filed. The instructions are available at: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/taxamend.html

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